Recent government data has revealed a major disparity in the allocation of funds under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) for the fiscal year 2024-25. While Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal received no funds, Uttar Pradesh was allocated ₹4,487 crore, sparking concerns over fairness in resource distribution.
The SSA is a central government program aimed at improving school effectiveness from pre-school to Class 12, ensuring equal opportunities for education and better learning outcomes. However, the Ministry of Education stated that fund disbursement depends on factors like expenditure pace, state contribution, and compliance with regulations.
A parliamentary standing committee, led by Congress leader Digvijaya Singh, has strongly criticized the withholding of SSA funds from states that have not adopted the PM SHRI (Prime Minister’s Schools for Rising India) scheme, calling the move unjustifiable. The committee has demanded immediate release of funds to the affected states, emphasizing that SSA predates PM SHRI and is crucial for fulfilling the Right to Education Act’s objectives.
Due to the delay in funding, states like Tamil Nadu have been forced to use their own resources to pay teacher salaries and maintain school infrastructure. For instance, Tamil Nadu allocated ₹2,000 crore from its budget to manage the shortfall caused by the lack of SSA funds.
This funding disparity has raised concerns over political bias, as the affected states are governed by non-BJP parties. The parliamentary panel has urged the Education Ministry to ensure that no state is penalized for not adopting the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 or the PM SHRI scheme.
